4172.0 - Arts and Culture in Australia: A Statistical Overview, 2008 (First Edition)  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 26/05/2008   
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Contents >> Government Funding

GOVERNMENT FUNDING

In 2005-06, government funding for cultural activities totalled $5,449.7m, with state and territory governments providing almost half (48% or $2,598.1m), the Australian Government contributing 35% ($1,878.4m), and local government making up the balance of 18% ($973.2m).

Funding for capital expenditure accounted for 12% of cultural funding by all levels of government, while recurrent expenditure accounted for the remaining 88%.

Apart from direct funding, the Australian Government also provides assistance through tax concessions such as the Cultural Gifts Program, which offers tax deductions to encourage the donation of items of cultural significance to public art galleries, museums and libraries.

According to the Department of Communications, Information Technology and the Arts (DCITA) Annual Report for 2005-06, 615 donations were made to the program in that year with a total value of $28.9m.

In 2005-06, the majority of Australian Government cultural funding supported Arts activities ($1,406.2m or 75% of total Australian Government funding). Broadcasting and film was the main beneficiary receiving over half of the total funding provided ($1,141.3m or 61%).

In contrast, state and territory governments directed the majority of their funding to Heritage activities ($2,142.1m or 82%) in 2005-06. Nature parks and reserves received $1,016.3m representing 39% of the total state and territory government funding for cultural activities.

4.1 CULTURAL FUNDING BY LEVEL OF GOVERNMENT - 2005-06
Value of funding
Percentage of total
$m
%
Australian Government
Heritage
Art museums and galleries
54.7
1.0
Other museums
199.6
3.7
Nature parks and reserves(a)
75.2
1.4
Zoological parks, aquaria and botanic gardens
8.6
0.2
Libraries and archives
134.1
2.5
Total
472.2
8.7
Arts
Literature and print media
29.5
0.5
Performing arts
111.0
2.0
Performing arts venues
-
-
Visual arts and crafts
17.3
0.3
Broadcasting and film
1 141.3
20.9
Community cultural centres and activities
10.0
0.2
Administration of culture
49.3
0.9
Other arts n.e.c.
47.8
0.9
Total
1 406.2
25.8
Total
1 878.4
34.5
State and territory governments
Heritage
Art museums and galleries
214.0
3.9
Other museums
306.6
5.6
Nature parks and reserves
1 016.3
18.6
Zoological parks, aquaria and botanic gardens
163.6
3.0
Libraries and archives
441.7
8.1
Total
2 142.1
39.3
Arts
Literature and print media
4.2
0.1
Performing arts
80.2
1.5
Performing arts venues
183.7
3.4
Visual arts and crafts
17.1
0.3
Broadcasting and film
76.4
1.4
Community cultural centres and activities
15.0
0.3
Administration of culture
37.6
0.7
Other arts n.e.c.
41.7
0.8
Total
456.0
8.4
Total
2 598.1
47.7
Local government
973.2
17.9
Total funding by all levels of government
5 449.7
100.0
- nil or rounded to zero (including null cells)
(a) Data for this category has been estimated based on previous year's data and should be used with caution.
Source: ABS, Cultural Funding by Government, 2005-06 (cat. no. 4183.0).


The Australian Government and state and territory governments increased their funding of cultural activities over the period 2002-03 to 2005-06. Australian Government funding increased by 12.4% and state and territory government funding increased by 13.3%. Local government funding of cultural activities increased by 8.4% over the period 2004-05 to 2005-06.

4.2 CULTURAL FUNDING, 2002-03 to 2005-06
Graph: 4.2 CULTURAL FUNDING, 2002–03 to 2005–06








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